     
Background
In late October, 2001, the most powerful storm to hit the
western hemisphere in recorded history slammed into the shores of Central
America. Hurricane Mitch was particularly merciless as it stalled over the
small country of Honduras, dumping the equivalent of seven years of rainfall in
only three days and leaving thousands dead. Mountainsides toppled and
major rivers drastically changed course. With one third of the population
homeless, the entire country's coffee and banana plantations destroyed, and a
completely collapsed infrastructure, the hurricane was described as a disaster
of "biblical" proportions.
Scottish fiddler, Bonnie Rideout, and her husband, Jesus
Medrano share a common love for Honduras. Immediately after the hurricane
hit, Bonnie began organizing a benefit concert with the National Geographic
Society at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. where she was a frequent
performer and lecturer. The NGS and Bonnie decided their focus should be
on education. While there was an international effort to rebuild the
country, the concert's proceeds went specifically to build and repair primary
schools. The concert was billed as CELTINO, featuring the music of both
Celtic and Latino musicians. Two intimate shows at the NGS Grosvenor
Auditorium raised enough money to build thirteen schools, a community
hall, a water tower, truck-loads of school supplies, and an additional forty
homes. A miscellaneous fund was also established in one district where an
endowment was created for the permanent position of a full time music teacher in
addition to twelve guitars for students.
Since 2001, the couple has quietly worked in more rural
Honduran districts to promote primary and secondary education. They have
worked with local leaders and organizations to build two more primary schools,
create a soccer field, provide soccer equipment, and additional school supplies
and books. They have also paid for the tuition of twenty secondary school
students each year for the past five years. "The hurricane was the
catalyst to get us involved, but after seeing how little education the rural
children receive, we could not turn our backs", relates Mr. Medrano. "The
work has taken on its own steam so we feel it is time to create a foundation to
continue our efforts." In 2005 the CELTINO Foundation became incorporated
and received its 501 (c) (3) non-profit status.
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![[Company Logo Image]](images/CELTINO.gif)